There’s a lot that brings us joy during December. Sure, decking the halls, holiday party hopping, and admiring twinkling lights are a big part of the season. But for design devotees, the highlight has nothing to do with yuletide merriment.
As the calendar flips to its final page, Pantone selects a zeitgeisty new color that defines the collective mood for the year ahead. Over the last couple of spins around the sun, we’ve seen Viva Magenta take over (if you’ll recall, 2023 was all about the Barbiecore movement) and then ushered in a more muted Peach Fuzz era.
Pantone recently announced the color of the year 2025: Mocha Mousse. The sartorial set is, no doubt, already familiar with the rich, decadent hue that’s captivated runway collections and fashionista’s social media feeds. The good enough-to-drink creamy brown shade infuses warmth and earthy elegance (aka the evolution of quiet luxury) into interiors, too. Not surprisingly, it’s a go-to of hoteliers looking to forge cozy, inviting spaces that make guests want to curl up with a cup of coffee or cocoa and stay a while.
Scroll on for our favorite boutique hotels that give Mocha Mousse the delicious moment it so deserves.
It’s rare to see a photo and have such a visceral reaction as to imagine what a place smells like (we’re guessing pine and fresh air). Eriro, a nine-suite sanctuary in Austria’s Tyrolean Alps, honors its high-altitude surroundings in the purest form. South Tyrolean architect Martin Gruber embraced sustainability and alpine simplicity to create comfortable, chic, uncluttered spaces swathed in local upcycled wood, stone, and hand-knotted sheep wool in shades of mocha and cream.
Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 9 • Airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN) | Amenities: • Meals and beverages included • Spa pools, saunas, and relaxation areas • Outdoor activities (hiking, biking, meditation, etc.) • Bikes and winter sporting equipment (snowshoes, hiking poles, etc.) |
MOLLIE Aspen (Aspen, Colorado)
The coolest and coziest new hotel to hit Colorado’s chicest town, MOLLIE Aspen captures the essence of Mocha Mousse—it’s tastefully indulgent, luxurious yet understated and easygoing, and keeps you coming back for more. The 68-key boutique bolthole takes a contemporary approach to alpine aesthetics. Signature elements include the curvilinear burl reception desk, gridded wood ceilings, sand-cast brass fixtures, and large windows that flood in natural light.
Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 68 • Airport: Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) | Amenities: • Rooftop terrace and pool • Ski storage • Rivian rentals • Spa-in-residence treatments in partnership with Naturopathica |
Cape of Senses (Lake Garda, Italy)
Travelers looking for a spa getaway will find it at Cape of Senses in Lake Garda. Wellness amenities, cossetting comforts, and a palette of soothing neutrals come together to create a sanctum of self-care. Mocha Mousse lends its serene quality to the spa library, a tranquil space for wellbeing-seekers to sip herbal tea and slump into lounge seating. The tranquil and on-trend hue also appears in the throw blankets and curtains in the suites as well as Restaurant Al Tramonto.
Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 55 • Airport: Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP) | Amenities: • 21,000-square-foot spa (steam room, sauna, relaxation rooms, treatment rooms, etc.) • Infinity edge pool with panoramic views of the lake • Two restaurants • Vespas, bikes, and a Fiat 500 |
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Hotel Lilien (Tannersville, New York)
The Catskills region is no stranger to cozy lodges. Hotel Lilien, an 1890s Victorian estate lovingly restored into an 18-room boutique gem with a killer cocktail bar, draws reformed urbanites and city dwellers decamping to the mountains for the weekend. The wood paneling and mocha velvet curtains create an almost louche cocoon that begs guests to linger longer. Record players, vintage rugs, and gilded mirrors resemble the rare treasures you might score at a local antique shop. It’s also very curated and comfy.
Key Points: • Website • n/a • Rooms: 18 • Airport: Albany Airport (ALB) | Amenities: • Cocktail bar + restaurant • Lounge with billiards table and board games • Library with rotating books curated by the team at Books Are Magic • Outdoor pool (open June through September) |
Santa Monica Proper Hotel (Santa Monica, California)
Proof that cozy isn’t limited to cold climates, sunny Santa Monica is home to the Kelly Wearstler-designed oasis that’s the hospitality equivalent of an iced Mocha Mousse (did we just invent the next *it* smoothie at Erewhon?). Earthy, coastal tones and organic textures give the see-and-be-scene hotel an unmistakable SoCal vibe. The sumptuous brown seating in the lobby lounge and library reading nooks are enough to make anyone hope for rain just to have an excuse to stay inside a little longer.
Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 267 • Airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Amenities: • Two restaurants • Rooftop Pool • Surya Spa • Yoga Studio • Fitness center • Recovery Suite |
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Forestis is a modern alpine spa retreat in the mountains of Italy’s South Tyrol region (and one of the coolest minimalist boutique hotels anywhere). While it’s tempting to spend the bulk of your time (well, when not face down on a massage table) staring out at the snow-capped peaks and wooded terrain—and in fairness, the sleek architecture and floor-to-ceiling windows purposefully orient the eyes outward—there’s so much beauty to be found inside. Interiors take a cue from the landscape with local wood, textured stone, and shades you might see on a walk through the forest.
Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 82 • Airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN) | Amenities: • Indoor/outdoor heated pool • 21,500-square-foot spa • Panorama restaurant • Outdoor activities (hiking, biking, meditation, etc.) |
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From the scones topped with clotted cream at afternoon tea to the service and design, everything about The Hari in Belgravia is tasteful and indulgent. Guest quarters are decked out in velvet upholstery, bespoke wood furnishings, and Arabescato marble. Upgrade to the Studio King Suite for an even more plush crash pad, complete with a bay window bathtub for a sudsy soak while staring out at the iconic skyline.
Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 85 • Airport: Heathrow Airport (LHR) | Amenities: • Cocktail bar • Garden terrace • Italian restaurant • Fitness center |
Granger Hotel (San Diego, California)
Tucked inside a historic, 120-year-old building that the founder of the San Diego Zoo (and his adorable baby animals) once called home, the newly minted Granger Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter is the first guest-only respite and member of Design Hotels in San Diego. Mocha Mousse accents and furnishings in sumptuous materials, such as leather and velvet, add a decadent touch to the lobby. The checkered tile flooring also pulls in the shade du jour. Rooms inject more playful, bold colors.
Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 96 • Airport: San Diego International Airport (SAN) | Amenities: • Access to AquaVie (gym, pool, and spa) • Cocktail bar • Complimentary snack bars on each floor • Le Labo products |
The Chatwal Lodge (White Lake, New York)
The Chatwal Lodge feels very on-brand for the Catskills. A nod to Great Camps of the past, this rustic-meets-refined respite showcases shades of brown throughout. Its covetable trio of modern treehouses brings the outdoors in with petrified wood and mango root tables and live-edge teak slabs that inject an elevated yet woodsy appeal. As if all that wasn’t cozy enough, guests can even get s’mores fixings, hot cocoa, warm cookies, fire kindling, snuggly blankets, slippers, and socks delivered.
Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 14 • Airport: New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) | Amenities: • All-inclusive farm-to-table dining • Fire pits • In-room massage • Recreation Center (duckpin bowling, billiards, darts, ping-pong, a gym, reading nooks, and a theater) |
Forth Atlanta (Atlanta, Georgia)
On trend in so many ways, Forth Atlanta is a new hotel and social club from the boutique hospitality firm Method Co. that’s located in a historic and happening neighborhood just east of downtown. Both the common areas and accommodations are accented with Mocha Mousse. The lobby implements the delicious soft brown shade in the contemporary furnishings and accent walls. While the tailored guest rooms show off curtains and bedding in Pantone’s color of the year 2025.
Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 196 • Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | Amenities: • Outdoor pool • Spa • State-of-the-art fitness center • Four F&B concepts |
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa (La Jolla, California)
With verdant gardens, towering palms, and hacienda-style buildings, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa looks like a characteristic California escape. The revamped rooms and suites—which nod to the property’s equestrian backstory—are a study in saddle-to-stable sophistication. Wood furnishings, sumptuous fabrics, leather strap accents, and nailhead-trimmed headboards in shades of brown evoke “I own a horse named Chestnut” vibes.
Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 210 • Airport: San Diego International Airport (SAN) | Amenities: • Two pools • Four restaurants • Spa • Apiary, chef’s garden, and butterfly sanctuary |
The Virginian Lodge (Jackson Hole, Wyoming)
The Virginian Lodge dates back to the 1960s. Glenn Napierskie built the original after seeing visitors in Jackson Hole sleeping in cars. Cut to the present: the mod-ish motor lodge sticks to its roots with dark wood beams, mid-century paneling, vintage furniture, and campy taxidermy in the lobby. Comfy rooms, a year-round heated pool, fire pits for swapping stories and roasting marshmallows, and a saloon bring the big Western energy.
Key Points: • Website • 4 Stars • Rooms: 165 • Airport: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) | Amenities: • All-season pool • Two hot tubs • Fire pits • Saloon |
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection (Austin, Texas)
We love it when a landmark gets a new lease on life. That’s exactly the deal with Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection. Once a sprawling residential estate, the property got a glam upgrade turning it into a high-end hotel and social club. Despite the modern makeover, the latest iteration doesn’t turn its back on the past. There are still plenty of old-school tiles, exposed ceiling beams, wood paneling, chocolate leather sofas, and timeless art. If you really want to snooze in Mocha Mousse-draped style, book the Mountain Laurel Suite.
Key Points: • Website • 5 Stars • Rooms: 54 • Airport: Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Amenities: • Outdoor pool • Lawn games • House bicycles • Weekly musical performance in the Mansion Living Room |
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